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    Home » Side Dishes » Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

    Published: Aug 31, 2023 by Carolyn

    Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    3.8K shares
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    Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are an excellent keto side dish and so easy to make! Drizzle them with some buttery garlic parmesan for the ultimate sprouts experience.

    Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in a white serving bowl.

    I adore Brussels sprouts – I always have and I always will. But like many people, I’ve had my share of mushy, flavorless sprouts. And almost always, the cooking method is to blame. The mistreatment of these delicious vegetables breaks my heart.

    However, this recipe treats them as they were meant to be treated. Air Fryer Brussels sprouts come out super crispy and flavorful every. single. time. These are restaurant quality sprouts, my people!

    I enjoy other preparations too, such as Keto Brussels Sprouts Casserole. And I adore them in Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs. But the air fryer method is easily my favorite way to make them. Crispy golden perfection!

    Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in the air fryer basket.

    Brussels sprouts vs brussel sprouts

    I want to take this opportunity clear something up. The correct term for these little cabbage-like veggies is Brussels sprouts. Not, as many people think, “brussel sprouts”.

    And since they are actually named after the city in Belgium, the first word should be capitalized. It’s always spelled with an s, with no apostrophe.

    You really can’t blame people for being confused, though. When you say it out loud, it all runs together, so the two terms sound exactly the same. We don’t name too many vegetables after cities, after all.

    I love etymology and I am a dork, so humor me!

    Air Fryer Brussels sprouts on a white plate with chicken breast.

    Why this recipe is so awesome

    The first time I had deep fried Brussels sprouts, I was blown away by the flavor and the texture. There are a few local restaurants that do some fabulous fried Brussels and I order them whenever I get the chance.

    But while I’ve tried it myself at home, it’s not something I care to do often. Deep frying is a messy business and your house tends to smell like fried food for days afterward.

    Enter the air fryer. This popular kitchen appliance has seriously changed the game for millions of home cooks. And air fryer Brussels sprouts taste almost as good as deep fried!

    They become deliciously browned and crisp, and you can jazz them up with your favorite additions like garlic parmesan butter. How can you go wrong with that?

    Ingredients you need

    Top down image of ingredients for Air Fryer Brussels sprouts.
    • Brussels sprouts: This recipe works best with fresh Brussels sprouts. Frozen sprouts never crisp up properly.
    • Butter: I used melted butter, but you can also use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. You don’t need much, so a little bit goes a long way.
    • Garlic: Fresh garlic has more flavor but you can use a little bit of garlic powder as well.
    • Parmesan: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is magical on air fryer Brussels sprouts.
    • Seasonings: Red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.

    Step-by-step directions

    A collage of 4 images showing how to make Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts.
    1. Wash and trim the Brussels sprouts and pat them very dry. Cut each in half. Or, if they are very large, cut them into quarters.
    2. In a large bowl, toss the sprouts with the butter, garlic, about three quarters of the Parmesan, the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
    3. Air fry at 400ºF for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring a few times during cooking, until tender and crisped to your liking. Try not to overcrowd the air fryer.
    4. Return to the bowl to toss in any remaining butter, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Add additional seasonings to taste.
    Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in an oval black dish.

    Expert tips

    Dry the sprouts really well before air-frying. Any excess moisture tends to make them soggy. I like to set them out on a tea towel after washing them, and then pat them dry with another towel.

    Toss them well with melted butter or oil. This makes them more flavorful but it also helps prevent them from sticking to the air fryer rack. Stir the sprouts during cooking, to move them around a bit and allow for more crispness.

    Don’t crowd Brussels sprouts in the air fryer. If you have a smaller fryer, you may want to work in batches. Brussels sprouts have a relatively high moisture content and they tend to steam, rather than crisp up, when there are too many.

    Air fryer Brussels sprouts are best eaten right away, when they are still crisp. They tend to soften quite a bit as they sit. Mind you, I am still happy to eat the leftovers the next day, crispy or not. All that delicious garlicky parmesan flavor is delicious!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why won’t my Brussel sprouts get crispy?

    There are a couple of reasons your air fryer Brussels sprouts don’t crisp up. You may have not dried them off properly before adding them to the fryer. Or you may have crowded them too much, which prevents the hot air from circulating around the sprouts properly.

    How do you store leftover air fryer Brussels sprouts?

    If you have any leftovers, store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes.

    How many carbs are in air fried Brussel sprouts?

    This air fryer Brussels sprouts recipe has 7.4g of carbs and 3g of fiber per serving. That comes to 4.4g net carbs per serving.

    Close up shot of Air Fryer Brussels sprouts.

    More recipes you will enjoy

    • Keto Chicken Tenders
    • Air Fryer Crab Cakes
    • Caramelized Brussels Sprouts
    • Keto Chicken Wings
    • Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
    Air Fryer Brussels sprouts in a white serving bowl.

    Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Recipe

    Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts are an excellent keto side dish and so easy to make! Drizzle them with some buttery garlic parmesan for the ultimate sprouts experience.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: air fryer brussel sprouts, Parmesan brussel sprouts
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 103kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb Brussels sprouts
    • 3 tablespoon butter melted
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 ounce freshly grated Parmesan divided
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF.
    • Wash and trim the Brussels sprouts and pat them very dry. Cut each in half, or if they are very large, cut into quarters.
    • In a large bowl, toss the sprouts with the butter, garlic, about three quarters of the Parmesan, the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
    • Air fry for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring a few times during cooking, until tender and crisped to your liking.
    • Return to the bowl to toss in any remaining butter, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan. Add additional seasonings to taste.
    Nutrition Facts
    Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = ⅙th of recipe)
    Calories 103 Calories from Fat 60
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 6.7g10%
    Carbohydrates 7.4g2%
    Fiber 3g12%
    Protein 4.4g9%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    3.8K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

    Reader Interactions

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    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Janet Belding says

      September 15, 2023 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      So delicious and easy!

      Reply
    2. Susan Smith says

      September 01, 2023 at 1:14 pm

      I stumbled on this recipe by accident and I can’t wait to try it. it looks easy, tasty and contains ingredients that I usually have on hand in my kitchen. Win WIN!

      Reply
    3. Debbie says

      August 31, 2023 at 9:38 am

      Hi Carolyn, new to the air fryer world. Have the Instant Vortex plus 10qt. Would you put on the trays or use the rotating basket?

      Reply
    4. Kerrie Spinrad says

      August 31, 2023 at 8:52 am

      5 stars
      I’ve made these for several gatherings! Always a hit. Their easy, delicious and I never have left overs.
      ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

      Reply
    5. Marion says

      August 31, 2023 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      This is a great easy recipe. Thank you again , Carolyn, for the wonderful, delicious, healthy gift of food.

      Reply
    6. Gail Baer says

      May 17, 2023 at 4:22 pm

      Can I use thawed frozen sprouts?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 17, 2023 at 7:25 pm

        Chances are that they won’t crisp up very well.

        Reply
    7. Janelle Sobaskie says

      November 05, 2022 at 7:27 pm

      5 stars
      I must say I over cooked these until they were mostly black and papery… But the flavor was still out of this world and the recipe has become a new favorite in our home.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        November 05, 2022 at 8:16 pm

        Oddly, I really like the slightly over-done ones. Maybe a little less time next time (different air fryers do cook differently!) and I bet they will be perfect!

        Reply
    8. Suzy says

      April 17, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      5 stars
      One of our favorite side dishes to make but really love how they taste coming out of the air fryer!

      Reply
    9. April says

      April 17, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      I love this brussel sprouts recipe! They came out so crispy, just the way I like them!

      Reply
    10. Chelsea says

      April 17, 2020 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      These are so delicious and so yum!! We’re obsessed! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        May 23, 2021 at 7:37 am

        Have you made these in the Instant Pot airfryer? If so, what was the method? Thanks!!

        Reply
        • Carolyn says

          May 23, 2021 at 8:05 am

          You mean the lid for the instant pot? It would be the same method, except a bit less time as I find that it’s hotter and things get cooked a little faster.

          Reply
    11. Erin says

      April 17, 2020 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      One delicious recipe! Thanks. The parm is awesome!

      Reply

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